ARM at the Core of IBM's New Serial Interface

IBM and VLSI have recently announced a memorandum of understanding for the
development of silicon chips for the Serial Storage Architecture (SSA)
interface. VLSI will develop and manufacture ARM-based ICs for SSA
applications that will be available for purchase and use by IBM and others
in future storage products.

SSA, which is being promoted vigorously as an industry standard by IBM,
offers much higher operating speeds than existing serial protocols, such as
RS232. Consequently, SSA can be used with high-speed peripherals such as
hard disk arrays, for which the only currently viable option is a parallel
interface.

An advantage of serial over parallel interfaces is that cabling is much
simplified, thereby decreasing equipment cost and set-up time while
enhancing reliability. SSA also offers even higher transmission rates than
current parallel standards.

SSA, which was developed at IBM's Havant research laboratories in the UK,
offers an easy migration path for systems currently using SCSI interfaces,
since the supporting code should only need minimal rewriting.

The performance characteristics of SSA are impressive. An SSA node
achieves a total transmission rate of 80Mbytes/sec. Sophisticated
error-detection and isolation features deliver extensive transparent error
recovery. Significant processing power is needed in the SSA communications
controller for this advanced error handling at these high speeds.

VLSI will be using an ARM RISC core at the heart of the new SSA driver ICs
it is designing and fabricating for IBM. The ARM processor offers a very
high level of performance, yet is only a fraction the size of its
competitors and so can easily be embedded into the custom ASICs. The
ability to integrate the ARM onto complex ASICs reduces chip count and
hence cost, which is important if SSA is to be accepted as a standard.

ARM's processors are targeted at portable computing and communications,
embedded control and consumer multi-media. IBM's selection of the ARM
processor endorses its applicability for embedded control in this important
marketplace.

Notes to Editors

1. Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) Ltd

ARM was formed in November 1990 by Acorn Computers, Apple Computer and VLSI
Technology to set the world standard in high performance, low cost, energy
efficient RISC processors. In April of 1993 Nippon Investment and Finance
(NIF), a Daiwa Securities Company, became ARM's fourth investor. ARM also
designs peripheral chips, supporting software and hardware tools. ARM's
products are used in applications at the cross roads of computing,
communications and consumer electronics. ARM provides design services,
consultancy, feasibility studies and training to enable the global
acceptance of its architecture.

2. VLSI Technology, Inc., (NASDAQ:VLSI)

VLSI designs and manufactures application-specific integrated circuits and
application-specific standard products based on its proprietary FSB
library technology. Targeting its offerings towards the computing,
communications and consumer marketplaces, the Company offers its customers
advanced system-level integration capabilities based on enabling
technologies such as secure information, network and wireless
communications, and RISC-based embedded control. VLSI's products are
designed into desktop and portable computers, network and wireless voice
and data equipment, and other state-of-the-art systems. The Company is
based in San Jose, California, and has approximately 2,650 employees
worldwide.